Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-09
The Decline Of GypsydOrl.
TClasgoW MALL

Gipsydom, if we may Judge from the
state Of the little colony at Yetholm, Is
not only declining, but waning to ex-
tinction. 1t received n heavy blow
some years ago when Queen Esther
died. The son who should have sue
ceeded her, and who is popularity
known as prince Robert" has
perhaps been as much in jail
40 out Of it since her death; and
only the other day this unworthy scion
Of tie royal house Of Faa was
arraignod and sentenced in the West
here for being drunk and disorderly.
Gypsydom is ashamed of him, and
Prince Robert has never yentured to
claim bis crown. in the course OF
generation or two the Yetholm gypsies
are almost certain to lose their present
distinctive existence. Their numbers
arc declining; their social circum-
stances are being improved; the old
caste barrier that made them q despised
people is being broken down and the
Younger Of them have gone forth as
hadesmen or servants without carrying
any badge of inferiority. The follow
ing figures will show their numbers at
different periods over nearly the last
hundred years: In 1898, the gypsies In
Yetholm were 90; in 1916, lO9; In
1895, 100; in 1S47, 80; in 1884, 45.
From inquiries made two years ago
We found that there were twelve
families, having in the aggre-
gate forty-seven persons. Since then
there has been one death, thus reducing
the number to forty-six. The diminu-
ton of the gypsy population during the
last forty years has therefore been
thirty.four, or little over ~ per cent.
If the decline is to 60 on at this rate
we are within measurable distance
OF the end OF the colony. And
though we bear no ill will to the
race, but the reverse, we are
not disposed to regard this as any
great calamity. Financially the colony
is not in a peculiarly thriving condi-
ton. One gypsy, for example, who has
a wife and six children, travels with a
cart and crockery, and has somewhat
bard lines of it. Another, who has a
wife and five children, travels with a
soft ware pack-an entirely new line
of business this for the gypsy, and a
more lucrative one. 1t is socially on a
higher plane, and shows rising
man-the only rising man among
the resident gypsies. A brother
and sister travel with whiten-
ing. Another gypsy still manufactures
besoms and scrubbers ; and when. a
wear or two ago, there was bazaar at
AYR with a gypsy stall, he received and
executed an order for two gross OF
scrubbers and one gross OF besoms for
il. Only one of the gypsies is a shoe
maker and he would not have learned
this trade if he could have helped it.
But pretty long spell in the peniten-
tiary, though it did not make him mo-
rally new man, yet sent him out with
some new industrial power.
Such is the gypsydom Of the present.
What a change from hundred years
ago, when the gypsies could muster 300
donkeys to escort the remains OF their
king from Coldingham to his last rest
ing-place in Yetholm If "Prince
Robert" we're worth the escorting and
were TO die, they could not now muster
a dozen asses to follow his bier Old
David Blythe, elder brother OF the
late Queen. and heir to the crown.
but who declined to CLAIM it, isreported
to have said "The folk moo ere nc
like the folk lang syne ; they have
neither the bane nor the constitution.
And certainly of the now resident Yet
holm gypsies this is true. Stalwart mer
of the type of King Faa and King
| Blythe, and women Of the Madge Cor
don class, are not to be found among
them. But if their wild nomadi'
life developed more bone and muscle
the school board and industrial
training have produced in thu
Younger generation higher typ'
of character, and furnished better citi
Gems. 1t was thought at one time tina
Irish immigrants would supplant th'
oypsies, but in Yetholm there are only
some five Irish families, and they arr
not likely to increase. OF late year
| Yetholm has come into repute as |
health resort. and very deservedly. TIL
cbannelly soil, the pure mountain air
the rich green hills. and the unre
stricted freedom are great at
fractions. Yetholm has thu
been looking up, and woul'
carry higher head very soon il Their
we're less of the landlord pressure
which has reduced the houses and di
minished the population. "Scoor tn
duds OF Yetholm was an old Borde
sayingin allusion to tho familiar gyps,
attire but should the long-talked-o
railway connecting Wooler with tn
North British sytem Ella Yetholm b
constructed. and the superior OF tn
soil show himself ready 10 multipl
slots" Of land instead OF diminishin
them, there win soon be no "dubs"
any kind TO "scoor." Yetholm WI
then enter ON a uev ara az proSperity.